Desmids of Southern Africa/ An annotated and illustrated list. Potchefstroom

335 Pages·2011·6.02 MB·Russian

by  Levanets A.

DESMIDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA.
AN ANNOTATED AND
ILLUSTRATED LIST
Anatoliy LEVANETS
Leon van RENSBURG
ISBN No. 978-0-9870232-0-9
Anatoliy LEVANETS
Leon van RENSBURG
DESMIDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA.
AN ANNOTATED AND
ILLUSTRATED LIST
Printed by The Platinum Press, Potchefstroom
Republic of South Africa
2011
Levanets, A., van Rensburg, L. (2011): Desmids of
Southern Africa. An annotated and illustrated list. AndCork
Publishers, Potchefstroom, Republic of South Africa: 1-332.
This book dedicated to the memory of the Professor Nadiya
Massjuk – teacher, guide, tutor, scientist, fighter, person, example.
You live and will live in us.
ISBN No. 978-0-9870232-0-9
CONTENTS

Introduction 2
General data 3
Annotated list 9
Samples description and enumeration 10
Family Mesotaeniaceae 31
Cylindrocystis 31
Mesotaenium 32
Netrium 33
Roya 35
Spirotaenia 35
Family Gonatozygaceae 36
Gonatozygon 36
Family Peniaceae 38
Penium 38
Family Closteriaceae 47
Closterium 47
Family Desmidiaceae 84
Actinotaenium 84
Docidium 84
Pleurotaenium 84
Triplastrum 93
Tetmemorus 95
Euastrum 96
Micrasterias 128
Cosmarium 141
Cosmocladium 237
Xanthidium 237
Staurodesmus 240
Arthrodesmus 240
Staurastrum 243
Sphaerozosma 280
Onychonema 282
Spondylosium 283
Hyalotheca 283
Desmidium 284
Phymatodocis 286
Gymnozyga 286
Aknowledgements 288
References 289
Short taxonomical index 304
Appendix. Desmids described from Southern Afria 322

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INTRODUCTION

Desmids are very interesting, numerous and morphologically unique group
of algae which attracted attention of phycologists for the long time. Here we want
to cite only main books and monographs which dedicated to desmids studies on
different territories as well as some comments.
Europe (Hassal 1845; Ralfs 1848; Delponte 1873; Cooke 1887; Nordstedt
1896, 1908; Comère 1901; West, West 1904, 1905, 1908, 1912; Migula 1911; West
and al. 1923; Krieger 1933, 1937; Růžička 1977, 1981; Lind, Brook 1980; Brook
1981; Förster 1982; Lenzenweger 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003; Kouwets 1999; Brook,
Williamson 1991, 2010; Compère 2001; Vrhovšek and al. 2006; Coesel, Meesters
2007; John, Williamson 2009 etc.).
Countries of former USSR (Kossinskaja 1952, 1960; Shtina and al. 1981;
Palamar-Mordvintseva 1982, 1984, 1986, 2003, 2005; Topachevskiy, Massjuk
1984; Algae. Reference book 1989; Diversity of algae of Ukraine 2000 etc.).
Unfortunately all identification books/guides, floras, check-lists and most
important articles on desmids of this part of the world published in local
languages (Russian, Ukrainian etc.) and not accessible for international scientific
community. This is a big problem which leaves colleagues from countries of
former USSR (except of scientists from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) out of
desmidiology boat in general.
North America (Wolle 1884, 1987a,b; Stokes 1893; Prescott 1970; Prescott
and al. 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982; Greeson 1982; Dillard 1990, 1991a,b, 1993; Wehr,
Sheath 2003; Johansen and al. 2007; Fučiková and al. 2008 etc.).
South America (Bicudo, Bicudo 1970; Bicudo, Azevedo 1977; Bicudo,
Sormus 1982; Bicudo, Samanez 1984; Thérézien 1989, 1991; Bicudo, de Casrto
1994; Tell and al. 1994; Biodiversidade... 2001; Gêneros... 2006; Donato 2010
etc.).
Asia (Turner 1892; Hirano 1956, 1957, 1959a,b; Vyverman 1991;
Biodiversity... 2000; Dogadina and al. 2007; Wang and al. 2008 etc.).
Australia and New Zealand (Ling, Taylor 1986; Croasdale, Flint 1981, 1988;
Croasdale and al. 1994 etc.).
Africa (Bourrelly, Couté 1991 etc., see also bibliography in Levanets, van
Rensburg 2010).
Only a few works dedicated/have information about desmids living in the
soils of different regions mostly European: Aleksahina, Shtina 1984; Ettl, Gärtner
1995; Shtina 1997; Kostikov and al. 2001; Vrhovšek and al. 2006).
This book is the first step in generalization of all existing knowledge on
diversity of Southern African desmids (published from 1855 until 2009). This
work include also all annotations about morphology, taxonomy, ecology,
distribution as well as all known imaged of desmids recorded in Southern Africa
(on additional DVD to the book).
Our general original data about distribution of desmids also included in
following annotated list. Because of big number of discovered taxa which are new
for science and which must be described according to the International Code of
Botanical Nomenclature, we decided to publish those descriptions separately.

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GENERAL DATA

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA situated at the extreme southern part of
Africa. Its shores are washed by two oceans - the Indian and Atlantic. Area is
about 1.2 million km2. The prevailing type of relief of inland territory - the flat
plateau heights 1000-2000 m a.s.l (in the western and south-western parts of the
country Little, Great and Upper Karroo, in the eastern – High-, Low-, Grass- and
Bushveld). Along the Indian and Atlantic oceans stretching band of the coastal
plains. Inland plateau and coastal plains are separated by Great Escarpment,
which is a steep edge of the inland areas. In the south-east and east, it forms a
high scenic Drakensberg Mountains, where situated the highest point of country-
Mount Cathkin Peak (3,660 m). In the south-west of the country are Cape
Mountains with an average height of approx. 1700 m. The extreme north-west
part of South Africa occupied by the Namib Desert, while on the north is the
plains of Kalahari Desert. Territory of South Africa lies in the subtropical and
tropical climate zones. Average annual temperature never drops below +12-15°C.
Only in areas of the highest mountains are freezing, but snow never lies more
than a few days. On the inland plains average temperatures vary from +7-10° C in
July to +18-27°C in January. On the subtropical coast during the summer months
the temperature is approx. +21°C, at winter time about +13°C.
The eastern and south-eastern coastal areas receive up to 1000 mm of
rainfalls per year, but slopes of Great Escarpment even up to 2000 mm: it is the
wettest areas of South Africa, where there is a hot, humid tropical climate.
Precipitation decreases from the east to the west: in the centre of the country
rainfalls are 250-500 mm, on the west coast – only 30-50 mm per year. About
70% of South African area suffers from a lack of moisture, and approximately
50% suffer from frequent droughts.
Most of the permanent rivers belong to the Indian Ocean basin, biggest of
them is Limpopo River. The largest river in the country - Orange River (approx.
2000 km long) - belongs to the Atlantic Ocean basin. Its major tributaries - Vaal,
Caledon, Brak etc.
The flora of South Africa is so special and unique, that the southern part of
the country separated as a special Cape Floral Kingdom - one of six on Earth. The
country's territory is covered mostly by veld: from relatively moist broadleaf with
palm trees and baobabs (the east) to the deserted (to the north and west) (for
more detailed description of the veld see fundamental work Acocks 1988; for
description of vegetation in general - Low, Rebelo 1996). Fauna of the country has
suffered since the beginning of European colonization. In most safety fauna found
in national parks (for more detailed description see Atlas of National Parks and
Reserves of South Africa 2006).
Drakensberg Mountains (Africa's highest mountain range south of
Kilimanjaro) extend from the north of Hoedspruit in RSA Northern Province
1,000 kilometers south to the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, where a series of
spectacular peaks, some 240 kilometers long, creates the western border of
KwaZulu-Natal. On this border they are known as uKhahlamba (or “barrier of
spears”) to the Zulus. Later they were renamed “Dragon Mountains” by the
Trekkers seeking to cross them. A massive basaltic cap set on a broad base of
sedimentary rocks belonging to the Stormberg series of 150 million years age. The
highest peak is Thabana Ntlenyana (3.482 meters). Drakensberg Mountains are
home for the world's second-highest waterfall, the Tugela Falls, with a total drop

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Fig.1. Location of Southern Africa (Republic of South Africa, Republic of
Namibia, Republic of Botswana, Kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland) on African
continent.
(Images from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_Africa;
http://www.roamingafrica.com/main_hunting_safari.htm)

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of 947 m. Part of the chain forms the watershed between the rivers flowing west
to the Atlantic and those flowing east and south to the Indian Ocean. The Orange
and Tugela rivers rise in the Mont-aux-Sources. Van Reenen's and Laingsnek are
the main passes. Drakensberg Mountains are home to aquatic, forest, scrub,
fynbos, savannah, mountain grassland and heath plant families, including a large
number of species listed in the Red Data Book of threatened plants, with 119
species listed as globally endangered (Golding 2002).
Inscribed in 2000, the Drakensberg-uKhahlamba National Park is located in
the west of KwaZulu Natal province on the Kingdom of Lesotho border (S 29°23’,
E029°32’). It is 243.000 hectares in size, stretching 150 kilometers from Royal
Natal National Park in the north to Cobham Forest Station in the south. It is a
mixed cultural and natural heritage site and the fourth site in South Africa to be
granted as World Heritage status. Africa's highest mountain range south of
Kilimanjaro is situated there, as well as the largest and most concentrated series
of rock art paintings in Africa, made by the San people over a period of 4000
years. Both the Zulu name, uKhahlamba (barrier of spears) and the Afrikaans
name Drakensberg (dragon mountain) fit the formidable horizon created by the
range. A massive basaltic cap set on a broad base of sedimentary rocks belonging
to the Stormberg series of 150 million years ago, the mountains are South Africa's
main watershed.
The site's diversity of habitats protects a high level of endemic and globally
threatened species, especially birds and plants. 98 of the 2153 plant species in the
park are endemic or near-endemic (Golding 2002). These include the extremely
rare, Protea nubigena Rourke, a plant found on a high ridge in the Royal Natal
section of the park. Part of the reason for the Drakensberg's rich biodiversity is its
extremes of altitude, from 1000 meters above sea level to 3500 meters.
Dominated by Hodgson's Peaks which enclose the Giants Cup, Cobham
Nature Reserve is a 52.000 hectare section of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park
in the southern berg adjacent to Himeville Village (situated approximately 150
km from Pietermaritzburg). Cobham is dominated by vast expanses of Themeda
triandra Forsk. and Festuca spp. (F. caprina Nees, F. costata Nees) grasslands.
The grasslands are interspersed with rocky outcrops/boulders, streams and rivers
and indigenous forests.
The reserve was established in 1959 by the Department of Forestry, and has
been administered by KZN Wildlife (formerly the Natal Parks Board) since 1988.
Vergelegen is managed as part of Cobham. It is the closest hiking route (via
Mkhomazi pass) to the highest peak in the Drakensberg, Thabana Ntlenyana (the
beautiful little Mountain) which is situated in Lesotho. At 3482 m, Thabana
Ntlenyana is the highest peak south of Kilamanjaro. The area has large numbers
of small upland lakes or tarns and there is an area in Cobham called the Lake
District.
KINGDOM OF LESOTHO is a small country surrounded from all sides by
the territory of South Africa and landlocked. Area – 30.355 km2.
From three sides Lesotho is separated from South Africa by the Drakensberg
Mountains. On the west of the Kingdom is a hilly plateau, and the central part of
the country is occupied by medium-altitude mountains (2500 m). In the northern
part of country stretches Thaba Putsoa and Maluti Mountains, where the highest
point of Lesotho Mountains – Thabana Ntlenyana (3.482 m) is situate. The
eastern part of the country is occupied by mountainous terrain, on the border
with South Africa terminating down near-vertical basalt walls of Great
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Escarpment. Lesotho - the only country in the world where there are no plains
located below 1400 m.
Highland location has caused quite a harsh climate. This is the only African
country where there is a season with average zero temperatures and almost the
whole of area during the winter time is covered with snow. Seasonal changes in
temperature in the mountainous north-east of the country is considerable: from
+34˚C in summer to 16˚C in winter time. Average rainfalls is about 730 mm per
year, mostly in the summer season.
On the territory of the Lesotho Mountains South Africa's major rivers has its
origins, the Orange and Caledon. All the rivers are extremely rapids, there are
many beautiful waterfalls: the largest is Maletsunyane (183 m). Highlands
occupied by a relatively poor grass vegetation, in middle altitudes –by rich alpine
meadows. The foothills are covered with grass steppes and small groups of
acacias. Under arable land is located approx. 10% of land area, pasture use 2/3 of
the territory, forests cover less than 2%.
REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA is inland state in Southern Africa, which has
no coastal line. Area – 600.370 km2. About 85% of Botswana's Kalahari Desert is
a monotonous terrain: a vast flat drainage basins with average altitude of 800-
1000 m. On the east and west it is surrounded by desert plateau (highest point -
Mount Tsodilo - 1489 m).
Most of the Kalahari territory is a desertificating deciduous savanna and
only in the places where groundwaters reaches surface shrub savanna formed.
Here distributed different acacias, and several species of aloe, one of whom -
spiral aloe - is endemic to the Kalahari. Widespread variety of pumpkin that can
accumulate water during the rainy season, among them the other endemic to the
Kalahari - a wild watermelon – which is an excellent food for cattle and wildlife in
the dry season. In the north part of country, due to the more humid climate are
typical savannah with acacias and baobabs. For these places is also characteristic
marula tree, whose fruit ripen once every 3-4 years and only in very hot weather.
Ripe fruit begins to ferment, and they love to feast on elephants. Banks of
northern rivers (different tributaries of Zambezi River) covered with tropical
forests, and wetland areas of internal delta of Okavango River occupied by dense
thickets of papyrus, reeds and shrubs. In general, forests cover approx. 25% of the
country, arable land - just 0.7% and pastures - approx. 45%. Huge open spaces
are savanna grassland herds of many wild animals: different antelopes, giraffes,
rhinos, and others. To preserve them were organized national parks, reserves and
sanctuaries, which occupies in total about 17% of the country area and protect
attractive tourism objects. The most famous are: Chobe National Park, Nxai Pan
National Park, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
(Atlas of National Parks and Reserves of South Africa 2006)).
Botswana's climate varies significantly in the northern and southern parts of
the country. In the north prevail tropical climate, in the south - the dry
subtropical with distinct continentality features. The average January
temperature is +25°C, July +16°C. The amplitude of diurnal temperatures reaches
+22˚C, while in the south in the winter there are night frosts. Precipitation in the
north reaches 700 mm per year, and in the south - not exceeding 250 mm. Rivers
in most of the Kalahari area are dry during the dry season which continuous
about 9 months - from March to November, the lower reaches of many of them
turn into a chain of salt lakes. The most significant river of Botswana - Okavango
- has no runoff into the ocean, it forms a huge inland delta, which is a virtually
unique wet boggy area in Botswana and covered up to 40.000 km2. One of the
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branches inside the delta empties into the lake Ngami, the other flowing through
the deep canyon of the far east, nourishes a shallow lake-marsh Makgadikgadi
which is constantly changing its shape. Okavango waters in many places, seeping
through the loose rocks, flowing hundreds of miles under the earth, only to re-
emerge on the surface as springs or seep into the depressions, pans. In the south-
east of country flows waters of Limpopo tributaries.
REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA located in the south-west of the African
continent, on the Atlantic coast. Area is 825.418 km2.
Most of the territory of Namibia is a plateau with an average altitude of 900-
1500 m. To the east it falls to the Kalahari Desert, in the west ends of the coastal
Namib Desert steep edge. Internal hilly plains and plateaus occupy approx. 1/2 of
the total area of the country, it is here that the main economic activity is
concentrated. In the western part of the plateau is the highest peak - Mount
Königstein (2606 m). Relatively low lands of Kalahari and Namib are virtually
unusable. Most of the Namib Desert occupy the world's highest sand dunes, often
painted in bright red colour. Dunes are in continual motion, and because of that
the terrain in Namibia is extremely volatile. In the central part of the desert area
is rocky or covered with stones.
In Namibia dominate tropical and mostly very dry climate, despite the
proximity of the ocean. Dryness due to the predominance of easterly winds which
lose all the moisture during the crossing the high plateaus of Southern Africa and
because the influence of cold Bengal currents. The average temperature of the
warmest month (January) ranging from +18°C on the coast to +27°C in the
Kalahari desert and the coldest in the same regions from +12 to +16°C.
Precipitation is irregular and vary from 10-50 mm on the coast up to 500-700
mm in the extreme north-east.
Major rivers - the Kunene in the north and the Orange in the south - make
natural boarders of the country. The largest lake - Etosha - is located in the
Namibian north and occupies an area of drainageless basins about 4.000 square
km.
In the north of country dominate grass-shrub desert which changes into
shrub desert to the south. In the more elevated central part of the country
dominate desert savanna, in Namib desert – temporal ephemeral vegetation. Due
to the almost complete absence of rainfall, some plants adapted to absorb
moisture from the mist, for example, Welwichia mirabilis. The area of arable
land covers approx. 1% of the territory. The rich fauna of the savanna is preserved
only in Etosha National Park, home to black rhinos, zebras, aardwolves, honey
badgers, and variety of the antelopes (hemsbock, springbock, dik-dik, eland,
wildebeest), giraffes, elephants, lions etc. Here is one of the world's largest
colonies of flamingos. In Namibia created a system of national parks and
reserves, some of which relate to the world's largest (Namib, Etosha); all
protected areas occupy 15% of the country.
KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND — the smallest of the African states –
located in between South Africa and Mozambique. This inland country covers
1736o sq.km.
Despite its modest size, the natural conditions of the country is very diverse.
The relief of the kingdom has a distinctive "step" structure: from west to east each
other are replaced by High Veld (1000-1500 m, but here the highest point of the
country - mountain Emlembe, 1862 m) and the Middle Veld (400-800 m), which
ends in an almost a flat plain - Low Veld (150-300 m).
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